Furnace Maintenance in Surrey: What You Can Do and When to Call a Pro

A furnace that gets regular care is safer, uses less energy and is less likely to break down on a cold night. Some jobs are easy for you to do. Others, especially anything involving gas, must be done by a licensed professional.

This guide uses advice from FortisBC, Technical Safety BC, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the BC Residential Tenancy Branch, checked on September 25, 2026. Your furnace owner's manual always comes first.

How often to change your furnace filter

FortisBC says to check your furnace filter at least every three months and replace or clean it if it is dirty. If you have pets or smokers in the home, you may need to check it more often. NRCan also says to change or clean filters every three months or as they become loaded, and to check your owner's manual for the exact schedule for your model.

NRCan warns that a dirty filter can raise energy costs and damage your system.

1. Turn off the power. FortisBC says to shut off the electricity at the furnace switch and the circuit breaker before you inspect or change a filter.
2. Find the filter. It is usually near the blower fan and may be held by a clip.
3. Put in a new filter of the size and type your manual lists, facing the direction the manual shows. If your filter is washable, clean it as the manual says.
4. Close the panel fully and turn the power back on.

Other maintenance you can do yourself

• Keep vents clear. FortisBC says to keep air supply and return vents throughout your home clear.
• Keep the furnace area clear. Do not store items against the furnace. FortisBC says not to keep laundry, paper, boxes, solvents, propane cylinders or gas-powered equipment in the furnace room.
• Look at the venting. FortisBC says to check the chimney and vent pipe regularly: the pipe should be connected securely, with no damage and nothing fallen into the base of the chimney or flue. Look only. Do not take vent parts apart.
• Keep outside vents clear. The Province of BC advises making sure outside vents for fuel-burning appliances are clear of debris, snow and ice.
• Check the condensate drain if your furnace has one. NRCan says to check the condensate drain because a plugged drain can cause water damage and affect humidity. If you see water around the furnace, call a professional.
• Oil the motor only if your manual says so. FortisBC says if your furnace motor has oiling points, add a drop or two of SAE 20 non-detergent oil each heating season, and do not over-oil. If there are no oiling points, skip this.
• Test your CO alarms. Technical Safety BC says to install CO alarms on every floor and near bedrooms, test them monthly, and replace them every 7 to 10 years.

How often to get a professional furnace tune-up

Technical Safety BC and FortisBC generally recommend having gas appliances serviced once a year by a licensed gas contractor. The Province of BC also says to have all fuel-burning heating appliances cleaned and inspected every year. NRCan says the best time is the end of summer, before the heating season starts.

FortisBC adds that most appliance makers require regular servicing to keep the warranty valid. Check your warranty papers.

What a professional service should include

Technical Safety BC publishes a general gas furnace service checklist. It includes:

• Checking safety limit controls, temperature set points and the thermostat
• Cleaning and inspecting the blower, and checking blower speed
• Checking pressure switches and the vent blower (if there is one)
• Inspecting burners and cleaning them if needed
• Inspecting the whole venting system to the outside
• Checking gas piping, gas pressure and flame sensing
• Checking for high carbon monoxide levels and inspecting the heat exchanger
• Cleaning filters and showing you how to maintain them
• Leaving you a completed checklist with the gas contractor's and gas fitter's names and numbers

FortisBC says to ask for a copy of the completed checklist after the service. You will need the invoice for the rebate below.

FortisBC appliance maintenance rebate

As of September 25, 2026, FortisBC's appliance maintenance rebate page lists:

The maximum is $150. Key rules from the page and program terms:

• You must be a residential FortisBC gas customer.
• The service must be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed contractor. A visual inspection alone does not qualify. The service must cover Technical Safety BC's complete service checklist.
• The furnace or boiler must be the main heating system in the home.
• Each home can claim once per calendar year for each appliance type.
• Apply online within 60 days of the service invoice date. You need your FortisBC gas account number, your email and scanned copies of all paid receipts.
• The rebate comes as a bill credit. Processing can take up to 90 days.
• Renters who are not the account holder need the account holder to complete FortisBC's consent form.

FortisBC can change or end the program at any time, so check the page before you book. Questions: call FortisBC rebates at 1-855-909-2329.

What does a furnace tune-up cost?

We could not find a government or utility source that publishes typical furnace tune-up prices for Surrey or BC, so we do not list one here. Prices vary by company and furnace type. Ask two or three licensed gas contractors for a written price and what their service includes. Compare it with Technical Safety BC's checklist above, and remember the $50 FortisBC rebate can lower your cost. FortisBC and Technical Safety BC both have online directories of licensed contractors.

Signs your furnace needs service now

FortisBC lists these signs that it may be time to call a licensed gas contractor:

• Any constant or on-and-off odour, like the "rotten egg" smell of gas or a sharp smell that stings your eyes
• Nausea, headaches, tiredness or flu-like symptoms in people at home, which could be carbon monoxide
• A yellow or wavering flame
• Soot or damage on the furnace or vent (white, brown or black streaks)
• Scorch marks near the door or openings, which can mean the flame has "rolled out"
• Frequent pilot light outages or delayed ignition (check your manual first; some newer furnaces have a normal delay)
• Too much or too little heat

Renting? Who does furnace maintenance

The Residential Tenancy Branch's Policy Guideline 1 says the landlord is responsible for inspecting and servicing the furnace as the manufacturer says, or once a year if there are no instructions. The landlord is also responsible for replacing furnace filters and cleaning heating ducts and ceiling vents as needed. The tenant is responsible for cleaning floor and wall vents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

• Appliance maintenance rebates — FortisBC
• Appliance maintenance program terms and conditions — FortisBC
• Appliance maintenance and safety — FortisBC
• Carbon monoxide safety — FortisBC
• Information Bulletin: Annual Servicing for Gas Appliances — Technical Safety BC
• Home Modifications — Technical Safety BC
• Carbon Monoxide Safety — Technical Safety BC
• Carbon monoxide safety — Province of British Columbia
• Guide to maintaining your home heating and cooling system — Natural Resources Canada
• Heating equipment for residential use — Natural Resources Canada
• Keeping The Heat In, Section 9: Operating your house — Natural Resources Canada
• Policy Guideline 1: Landlord & Tenant Responsibility for Residential Premises — Residential Tenancy Branch

General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.